Here are a few common myths... test your eye care knowledge below with these True/False questions.
True or False? Reading in dim light is harmful to your eyes.
False: For centuries, all nighttime reading and sewing was done by candlelight or with gas or kerosene lamps. Using your eyes in dim light does not damage them, but good lighting does make reading easier and prevents eye fatigue- especially for people who wear bifocals.
True or False? Using computers can damage your eyes.
False: Working on computers or video display terminals (VDTs) will not harm your eyes. You can develop eye strain or fatigue after using a VDT for long periods of time, just as you can from reading or doing other close up work. One of the most common eye conditions among those who use computers frequently is dry eye. Taking regular breaks to look up or across the room and blinking, not only relieves the strain on your eyes but, can help with dry eye and eye fatigue. If your vision blurs or your eyes tire easily, you should have your eyes examined by an Ophthalmologist.
True or False? Wearing the wrong kind of glasses hurts your eyes.
False: Eyeglasses are devices to improve your vision. While the correct glasses or contacts help you to see clearly, wearing a pair with the wrong lenses, or not wearing glasses at all, will not physically damage your eyes.
True or False? Children outgrow crossed or misaligned eyes.
False: Children do not outgrow crossed eyes. A child whose eyes are misaligned will develop poor vision in one eye, because the brain will "turn off" the misaligned or "lazy" eye. The unused or misaligned eye will not develop good vision unless the weaker eye is forced to work, usually by patching the stronger eye.
In general, the earlier crossed or misaligned eyes are treated, the better. Children who appear to have misaligned eyes should be examined by an Ophthalmologist. Crossed or misaligned eyes may be straightened by glasses, eye drops, or even surgery.
True or False? Eye trouble is the cause of learning disabilities.
False: Reading, mathematics and other learning problems among children are often referred to as learning disabilities. There is no scientific evidence that eye trouble causes learning disabilities, or that eye exercises cure learning problems.
Children with learning difficulties often need help from teachers and people with special training. Before such treatment begins, it is important for the child to have a complete medical eye examination, to see if he or she has a vision problem that may affect reading.
True or False? Sitting close to the television can damage children's eyes.
False: Children can focus up close without eye strain better than adults. They often develop the habit of holding reading material close to their eyes or sitting right in front of the television.
There is no evidence that this damages their eyes, and the habit usually disappears as children grow older. Children with nearsightedness (myopia) sometimes sit close to the television in order to see the images more clearly.
True or False? People with "weak" eyes should avoid reading fine print.
False: There is a belief that people with "weak" eyes (people who wear glasses) will "wear out" their eyes sooner if they read fine print or do a lot of detail work.
If you compare your eyes to a camera, you can see that this idea is not true. The camera will not wear out sooner just because it is used to photograph intricate detail. You can use your eyes without fear of "wearing them out."
True or False? Older people who gain "second sight" may be developing cataracts.
True: Older individuals sometimes find themselves able to read the newspaper without their glasses and think that their eyesight is improving.
The truth is, they are becoming nore nearsighted, which can be a sign of early cataract development. A cataract is a gradual clouding of the clear lens inside the eye.
True or False? Contact lenses can prevent nearsightedness from getting worse.
False: Some people have been led to believe that wearing contact lenses will permanently correct nearsightedness, so that eventually they won't need either contacts or eyeglasses.
There is no evidence that wearing contact lenses produces a permanent improvement in vision or prevents nearsightedness from getting worse.
And last but not least...
True or False? All "eye doctors" are the same.
False: An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D. or osteopath) with special training and skill to diagnose and treat all diseases of the eye.
To become an ophthalmologist requires eight years of medical school and hospital training after college. An ophthalmologist is qualified to provide all aspects of eye care, including cataract, laser, and other eye surgery.
There are other eye professionals called optometrists and opticians. They are trained and licensed to provide some aspects of eye care, but are not medical doctors and cannot perform surgery.
If you have any questions regarding this blog post, please call us at: 803-794-0000
True or False? Reading in dim light is harmful to your eyes.
False: For centuries, all nighttime reading and sewing was done by candlelight or with gas or kerosene lamps. Using your eyes in dim light does not damage them, but good lighting does make reading easier and prevents eye fatigue- especially for people who wear bifocals.
True or False? Using computers can damage your eyes.False: Working on computers or video display terminals (VDTs) will not harm your eyes. You can develop eye strain or fatigue after using a VDT for long periods of time, just as you can from reading or doing other close up work. One of the most common eye conditions among those who use computers frequently is dry eye. Taking regular breaks to look up or across the room and blinking, not only relieves the strain on your eyes but, can help with dry eye and eye fatigue. If your vision blurs or your eyes tire easily, you should have your eyes examined by an Ophthalmologist.
True or False? Wearing the wrong kind of glasses hurts your eyes.
False: Eyeglasses are devices to improve your vision. While the correct glasses or contacts help you to see clearly, wearing a pair with the wrong lenses, or not wearing glasses at all, will not physically damage your eyes.
True or False? Children outgrow crossed or misaligned eyes.
False: Children do not outgrow crossed eyes. A child whose eyes are misaligned will develop poor vision in one eye, because the brain will "turn off" the misaligned or "lazy" eye. The unused or misaligned eye will not develop good vision unless the weaker eye is forced to work, usually by patching the stronger eye.
In general, the earlier crossed or misaligned eyes are treated, the better. Children who appear to have misaligned eyes should be examined by an Ophthalmologist. Crossed or misaligned eyes may be straightened by glasses, eye drops, or even surgery.
 |
| "Lazy" eye is often treated by patching the strong eye, forcing the weaker eye to work. |
True or False? Eye trouble is the cause of learning disabilities.
False: Reading, mathematics and other learning problems among children are often referred to as learning disabilities. There is no scientific evidence that eye trouble causes learning disabilities, or that eye exercises cure learning problems.
Children with learning difficulties often need help from teachers and people with special training. Before such treatment begins, it is important for the child to have a complete medical eye examination, to see if he or she has a vision problem that may affect reading.
True or False? Sitting close to the television can damage children's eyes.
False: Children can focus up close without eye strain better than adults. They often develop the habit of holding reading material close to their eyes or sitting right in front of the television.
There is no evidence that this damages their eyes, and the habit usually disappears as children grow older. Children with nearsightedness (myopia) sometimes sit close to the television in order to see the images more clearly.
True or False? People with "weak" eyes should avoid reading fine print.
False: There is a belief that people with "weak" eyes (people who wear glasses) will "wear out" their eyes sooner if they read fine print or do a lot of detail work.
If you compare your eyes to a camera, you can see that this idea is not true. The camera will not wear out sooner just because it is used to photograph intricate detail. You can use your eyes without fear of "wearing them out."
True or False? Older people who gain "second sight" may be developing cataracts.
True: Older individuals sometimes find themselves able to read the newspaper without their glasses and think that their eyesight is improving.
The truth is, they are becoming nore nearsighted, which can be a sign of early cataract development. A cataract is a gradual clouding of the clear lens inside the eye.
True or False? Contact lenses can prevent nearsightedness from getting worse.False: Some people have been led to believe that wearing contact lenses will permanently correct nearsightedness, so that eventually they won't need either contacts or eyeglasses.
There is no evidence that wearing contact lenses produces a permanent improvement in vision or prevents nearsightedness from getting worse.
And last but not least...
True or False? All "eye doctors" are the same.
False: An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D. or osteopath) with special training and skill to diagnose and treat all diseases of the eye.
To become an ophthalmologist requires eight years of medical school and hospital training after college. An ophthalmologist is qualified to provide all aspects of eye care, including cataract, laser, and other eye surgery.
There are other eye professionals called optometrists and opticians. They are trained and licensed to provide some aspects of eye care, but are not medical doctors and cannot perform surgery.
If you have any questions regarding this blog post, please call us at: 803-794-0000
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